90 years old and still hitting the trails
by Brandon Mayer
Ron Derraugh, Clint Coleman and Heather Cooke-Erwin at the Mountain Trail Blazer Sweetheart Rally
Clint Coleman turns 91 years old on July 16, but that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying his favourite pastime year after year: snowmobiling. The local man – who was born and raised in Hallville – has a 2018 Yamaha Venture which he refers to as “The Beast”. He expects it will be the last sled he will need in his lifetime.
Clint mostly rides the local trails in Mountain, Kemptville, and Merrickville with his long time friend, Ron Derraugh. The pair have gone on sledding journeys as far as Stonecliffe. The activity keeps them young, and also feeds their love of the outdoors. They both started riding many decades ago, when trails were much less commonplace.
Ron found his love of sledding in 1968, while Clint recalls that he also started riding in the 1960s. At the time, Clint bought a sled that was sufficiently large for him to ride together with his late wife, Marian. They both enjoyed the time spent together.
One of the major benefits of sledding for Clint has been the people he meets while he is out on the trails, many of whom cannot believe he is 90 years old, soon to be 91. Ron is in his 79th year and still going just as strong with his passion for the deeply Canadian winter activity. Clint and Ron collectively put in 3,200 km riding the trails in the past winter season alone.
The love of family helps to keep Clint’s passion for sledding alive. He reports that if it wasn’t for his niece, Heather Cooke-Erwin, and Ron getting his trail pass for him each year, he wouldn’t be riding as much as he does. Ron and Heather pick up the pass with permission from Clint’s sons Dave, Doug, and Darrin.
Ontario has an extensive network of snowmobile trails, including heavy trail coverage in SD&G and the surrounding municipalities. The trails are overseen by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), with local clubs operating throughout the province. Locally, Clint is a member of the very popular Nation Valley Snowmobile Association (NVSA), of which other members of his family are also members, including Heather. Many of the trails used by snowmobilers are only made available for travel by the grace of local farmers and other landowners.
To learn more about the NVSA, visit https://ucsr.ca/nation-valley-snowmobile-association/. For trail maps and other province-wide information on snowmobiling, visit https://www.ofsc.on.ca/